Career Focus: Comprehensive Psychology Career Development Guide

Module Overview and the Nature of Career Development

  • Module Purpose: This module was developed by the Careers and Employment team at Griffith University. Its primary aim is to assist students in clarifying desired career outcomes from a Psychology degree to improve employment prospects throughout the course of study.

  • Recommended Timing: Students are advised to complete this module during the mid-trimester break or in trimester 5, as the content aligns with Module 3 and is critical for career planning.

  • Defining a Career:     - A career is defined as a lifelong process involving the development of personal qualities and skills applicable to work, study, and leisure.     - It extends beyond a simple job or degree, encompassing components that provide life with meaning and purpose.     - Healthy career development involves making a series of decisions regarding qualifications, experience, and skills over time.

The SOAR Model Framework

The SOAR model is a four-step framework utilized to support career decision-making and the development of a career plan:

  • S — Self Awareness: Gaining a holistic understanding of individual strengths, motivations, values, personality, and occupational interests.

  • O — Opportunities: Understanding the range of experiences available to develop skills and capabilities necessary for professional success.

  • A — Aspirations: Making informed career choices and establishing plans to develop professionally relevant skills.

  • R — Results: Taking concrete action and reviewing progress through networking, gaining experience, and creating opportunities.

Self-Awareness (S)

Self-awareness involves exploring interests, values, skills, and personality traits to identify career preferences.

  • Importance of Self-Awareness:     - Matches individual traits to specific career paths.     - Helps articulate personal strengths and skills for the labor market.     - Facilitates the identification of "skill gaps" requiring further development.     - Enhances self-confidence and promotes a positive self-image.

  • Resources and Self-Assessment Tools:     - What Are Your Values? / Defining Your Values: Tools to help decide significant life priorities.     - Character Strengths (VIA): A scientific survey tool focusing on character strengths.     - CareerQuest: Recommends specific jobs based on user interests.     - Personality Self-Assessment: A free test based on the Carl Jung and Isabel Briggs Myers typological approach.     - Personality Relevant to Career Choice: A resource describing how personality types influence career preferences.     - Holland Code Career Test: Identifies career interests based on six occupational themes: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional.

Opportunity Awareness (O)

Opportunity awareness focuses on researching career options and understanding industry expectations. Employers typically seek a combination of a degree and specific skills/experiences.

  • Importance of Opportunity Awareness:     - Enhances understanding of available career options relevant to the degree.     - Clarifies necessary skills, knowledge, and capabilities for specific fields.     - Assists in the transition from university to the workforce.     - Identifies new opportunities for employability development.     - Helps determine workplace "fit."     - Increases awareness of available support systems.

Professional Profile: Psychological Science

Psychological science focuses on describing, understanding, and predicting human behavior.

  • Major Employers:     - State and Federal Governments.     - Human Resource Management Departments.     - Training Providers.     - Hospitals (General and Psychiatric).     - Private Practice and Aged Care Services.     - Children’s, Community, and Correctional Services.     - Police Forces and Defence Forces.     - Employment Services and Family/Child Welfare Agencies.     - Mental Health and Rehabilitation Services.     - Policy Development, Research, and Market/Social Research Companies.     - Youth Work, Welfare, and Community Planning.     - Law Courts.

  • Key Skills (Employability and Clinical):     - Clinical: In-depth understanding of human behavior, active listening, perceptiveness, oral/written communication, assessment, and therapy/counselling.     - Employability: Research skills, critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and interpersonal sensitivity/effectiveness.

  • Prospects and Salaries:     - New Graduate Median Salary: $50,000 (Source: Graduate starting salaries from GDS 2014).     - Established Full-Time Psychologist Median Salary: $78,000 (Source: Job Outlook, weekly before-tax earnings).     - Future Outlook: Psychology occupation holds a 5-star rating for predicted future job openings according to Job Outlook data.

  • Career Pathways:     - Caseworker or Community Corrections Officer.     - Helpline Counsellor or Mental Health Support Worker.     - Disability Support or Drug and Alcohol/Addictions Worker.     - Family Services/Child Safety Officer.     - School Liaison and Family Support.     - Project Officer or Research Assistant.     - Recruitment Consultant/Employment Officer.     - Career Development Consultant.     - Social Work.     - With 4th Year (Honours) Qualification: Probationary Psychologist.

Aspirations (A) and Career Decision-Making

Aspirations involve setting realistic, employment-focused goals based on self-awareness and opportunity research.

  • Importance of Developing Aspirations:     - Identifies factors required to achieve goals.     - Provides a range of career options to adapt to changing opportunities.     - Ensures progress through measurable outcomes.

  • Strategies for Exploring Aspirations:     - Use the Employability Skills Audit Tool to identify current skills and development needs.     - Consult with Lecturers, Mentors, or Career Counsellors.     - Identify alternatives based on self-awareness.     - Conduct informational interviews to clarify occupational preferences.     - Set goals with clear timeframes and deadlines while regularly checking progress.

  • The Career Decision-Making Continuum:     - Decision-making depends on personality, circumstances, importance, resources, and previous processes.     - Logical/Rational: Uses reasoning, analysis, and pro/con lists to gain a fresh perspective on paper.     - Intuitive/Emotive: Relies on 'gut feel' and reflecting on how options align with personal feelings.

Results (R) and Action Planning

Action planning involves creating a concrete path toward career goals using the SMART framework.

  • SMART Goals Framework:     - S (Specific): Be clear and concise about career goals and required skills.     - M (Measurable): Plan a series of actions across the duration of the degree to track progress.     - A (Achievable): Set goals within the individual's capacity to achieve.     - R (Relevant): Choose actions pertinent to professional development while remaining flexible.     - T (Timed): Assign accurate timeframes, accounting for barriers and spacing activities appropriately.

Strategic Actions to Boost Employability

There are five key actions recommended to improve graduate outcomes:

  1. Clarify Career Goals: Discuss direction with mentors, career counsellors, or academics.

  2. Record Skills:     - Set up a LinkedIn profile and an e-portfolio.     - Document university projects, assessments, and develop a resume.

  3. Gain Experience:     - Current Job: Evaluate how skills from current roles fit the chosen profession.     - Unitemps: Utilize the Griffith Unitemps service to find paid casual or part-time work.     - Volunteering: Access opportunities via www.volunteeringgc.org.au or www.govolunteer.com.au.     - Work Experience / Internships: Enrol in internships, such as the Community Internship 3002LFC, which is a free-choice elective for credit.

  4. Build Networks:     - Connect with industry via LinkedIn groups and professional associations.     - Attend networking events and engage with colleagues during placements or internships.

  5. Get Involved: Actively participate in extracurricular activities and professional development opportunities.

Additional Resources

  • Counselling Career Options: Includes occupation snapshots.

  • PACFA Employment Search: Lists common job advertisements for counsellors.

  • Psych Student HQ (APS): Information on paths toward a psychology career.

  • Registration: Guidance on registration as a Psychologist in Australia.

  • Three-year Degree Guidance: "What can I do with a three-year degree in psychology?" and specific guides for Criminology/Psychology double degree students.